QPR strengthened their claim for a Division Two play-off place with a convincing victory over struggling Port Vale at Loftus Road.

Second-half goals from Danny Shittu, Paul Furlong, Gino Padula and Kevin Gallen kept Ian Holloway's side in sixth place while Vale moved closer to the drop zone.

QPR took a deserved lead seven minutes into the second half when Marc Bircham swung over a corner which found Furlong who headed across goal for Shittu to fire home from six yards.

QPR doubled their lead in the 61st minute through Furlong, his third goal in as many games since returning from suspension.

The former Chelsea striker converted a Richard Langley cross from close range to put the home side in control.

Argentinian defender Gino Padula grabbed a third after 79 minutes and Kevin Gallen completed the rout with a clinical strike with a minute remaining.

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QPR: Culkin, Forbes, Shittu, Palmer, Padula, Bean, Bircham, Langley, Griffiths, Gallen, Furlong. Subs: Day, Doudou, Murphy, Fitzgerald, Angell.

Port Vale: Goodlad, Carragher, Collins, McClare, Byrne, Rowland, Durnin, Boyd, McPhee, Brooker, Armstrong. Subs: Brisco, Delaney, Reid, Paynter, Birchall.

Referee: S Tomlin (E Sussex).